A group of farmers are locked out of a federal funding pool for emissions reduction because their municipalities don’t have agreements with their local watershed districts.
Two farmers from the RM of Roland, one from the RM of Portage la Prairie and one from the RM of Morris told the Co-operator they didn’t qualify for funding under the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program or other conservation programs delivered by the watershed districts.
“No luck for me for shelterbelt funding or anything else,” said Dane Froese, who farms in the RM of Roland.
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One producer who farms in multiple municipalities north and east of Winnipeg said some of his land qualified and some did not.
The program provides funding through the On Farm Climate Action Fund for improving nitrogen management, cover cropping and expanding rotational grazing.
RM of Roland reeve Mike Pfrimmer told the Co-operator that his RM is considering joining a watershed district and had received presentations from provincial and district representatives. Council will make the decision in November, he said in an emailed statement.
The RM of Portage la Prairie is split between four watersheds. It’s a member of the Whitemud district, said chief administrative officer Nettie Neudorf.
The RM used to belong to the former La Salle Redboine Conservation District, said Neudorf, but removed its funding because it did not receive enough benefit to justify the fee.
“The funding model has not changed with the creation of the new watershed districts,” Neudorf said. “The RM of Portage still feels these membership fees can be better utilized elsewhere across the municipality.”
Farmers who aren’t eligible can contact the Manitoba Association of Watersheds for more information, said executive director Lynda Nicol.
